What is the difference between low pressure and high pressure gradient HPLC?

Answer 1

In a high pressure gradient pump, each different mobile phase is delivered by an individual pump head and then the mobile phases are mixed at the pump outlet. In a low pressure gradient pump, different mobile phases are mixed using a valve before entering the pump head.

As a result of the fact that the low-pressure gradient design uses only one pump head, it is of lower cost. It can also use more types of mobile phase without significant increase of cost.

Since solvent mixing point is much closer to the column head in the high-pressure gradient design, it provides a much faster gradient. This is measured using delay volume. The value can be 50-300 uL for high pressure gradient pump and can be 2 to 3 times larger for a low pressure gradient pump. A small delay volume is important when the analysis time is short or the flow rate is low. If the delay volume is too large, it become impossible to obtain reproducible gradient run since the planed composition cannot reach the column head before a run is finished.

Answer 2

In high-pressure gradient HPLC, the mobile phase is pressurized to deliver a gradient of solvent mixtures. This allows for more precise control over the separation of compounds based on their differing affinities for the stationary phase. In contrast, low-pressure gradient HPLC operates at lower pressures and uses a manually adjusted gradient system, providing less precise control over the separation process.